The question of whether a middle seat left open would improve a passenger’s odds of not getting sick compelled Arnold Barnett.

[Prof. Arnold] Barnett...expanded his analysis of airline empty middle seats by formulating a statistical study on traveling by car.

“While flying is more hazardous now, so is practically everything else,” Mr. [Arnold] Barnett said.

Arnold Barnett found an occupied middle seat increased the odds of virus transmission by 79%.